REED, Harold J.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 05/11/2012 “Our gentle giant” Harold J. Reed, 84, of Tucson died April 27, 2012. He was born in Nov. 20, 1927, in Marshall, Mich. At the young age of 9, he went to work for a circus, cleaning up after the animals, then at 10, he traveled with a carnival working on the rides. He joined the Maritime Service when he was 12 in the Great Lakes and joined the Navy when he was 15, but was released a few months later, when they discovered his true age. His childhood was likened to that of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, lots of adventure, travel, learning, joy, fear, bravery, loneliness and love. In 1946, Hal enlisted in the Army (received the golden gloves award in boxing). He was deployed to Korea where he served with the 24th Medical Corp., there his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation signed by President Harry S. Truman. He later joined the U.S. Air Force where he received two commendations for outstanding job performance and leadership. He retired from the Air Force in 1969, and then worked as a mechanic until he retired. Hal was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by one son, Harold Jr. (Joyce); daughter, Judy (Mark) Cashwell; four grandchildren; one sister, Annabelle and several nieces and nephews. Hal has many friends both in Tucson and the White Mountains who will miss him dearly, especially the Kluns: Rick, Doris and Mark. No one enjoyed those Uno games and Fourth of July barbecues, with horseshoes and darts, more than Hal. “We are really going to miss you big guy. When in Show Low Hal attended the Linden Hills Family Fellowship. A heartfelt thanks to the Heartland Hospice staff, especially his nurse, Fay, for taking such good care of Hal. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson. Contributions are suggested to the Humane Society. Heather Mortuary handled arrangements.